A Gaylord man was sentenced to prison Tuesday in connection with criminal sexual conduct matters in Tuscarora Township.

Peter Michael Nowak, 23, will serve 78 months to 15 years with the Michigan Department of Corrections after his conviction on one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. Nowak entered a no contest plea, meaning that he did not admit guilt but is willing to accept the punishment as if he were found guilty in the case. He cited potential civil liability as the reason for his plea.

A first-degree criminal sexual conduct charge was dropped as part of the agreement.

Nowak was arrested by Tuscarora Township Police April 30 after he was accused in a case involving a 7-year-old girl. Court records state that the girl’s mother found comments written by her daughter that detailed the alleged abuse by Nowak. The mother then reported the evidence to police.

“This child should never have had anything but smiles and giggles at her age,” the child’s mother said in a victim impact statement she read aloud in court. “Now it’s about nightmares, counseling and sexual acts she shouldn’t know of.”

Nowak, who had been temporarily staying in the home following “roommate problems” at his previous residence, declined to speak when offered the opportunity by Judge Scott Pavlich.